Week 3

• Define interface and describe criteria that defines a good interface.

An interface is what the user sees to navigate a system, such as a website, an elearning program, an ATM, the cable menu on TV, the playstation men

u... A good interface is intuitive in the way that, the user does not need to struggle to find what they are looking for, know how to advance pages, and comfortably navigate the system structure without first reading a manual on how it all works.

• Critique two web sites: one that you think is poorly designed, one that you think is well-designed. Provide rationale for your choice. Both sites you critique should serve the same functional purpose. Diagnose the problems on the bad site and offer improvements.

Worst website of all time: http://yvettesbridalformal.com/index.htm

This website is horribly designed in that, it is difficult to read, has a million contrasting colors, "dancing babies", flashing lights, and overall it's just so hard to look at. I cant imagine what a screen reader would pick up on this website. And I just realized while looking at it and writing it's description in my blog, that it has music, which slowly

snuck up on me, and then all of a sudden I started to wonder "where is that music coming from?! Oh...it's this abomination of a website." I thought it couldnt get worse, but it did. I think what's w

orst about this website, is that it is not laid out in a systematic format, so the user has to spend a LONG time finding what they want in the way of formal gowns, all the while sifting through country cooking recipes, mary kay cosmetics, and sugar cookie offers.

A not as horrible formal gown shop website with a little more clarity: http://www.tjformal.com/

After reviewing Yvette's webpage, and then clicking on TJ's, I'm having a hard time figuring out whats so bad about it. It has a clearly laid out structure with standard framing. The one thing I dont like is picture on the "wall" that keeps chang

ing images. Otherwise, it has categories of styles of dresses people may be looking for, contact information, FAQ section. measurement, etc. I like that they post what forms of payment they accept, and they have a "live help" chat window if you need assistance finding something on their site. It's hard for TJ's to look bad, at this point...after seeing Yvettes...man.

• From what you learned in this week's reading, are the sites accessible?

Yvettes? No. No and helllllllllll no. As a matter of fact, I think it's giving me a handicap, the longer I look at it.

TJ's? Yes, mostly. I think there is a lot of text on the pages, and that in some of the sections, ie: the "in stock" section, all of the categories under "in stock" have "in stock" following their name.If it's in the "in stock" section, we KNOW it's IN STOCK. It doesnt need to be said after nearly every thing.

• If the sites have accessibility issues, what are the accessibility issues? Include a representative image for each site as well as a link to each site. Include evidence that supports your choices.

Yvettes:

First, they need to use a standard frame work - a top navigation bar, a side navigation bar, and a search box. All of their subpages need to be set up consistently with the first, because they are all different, they are hard to navigate.

Second, Yvette's needs to organize their material into chunks of topics.

• Bridal gowns
• Bridesmaid & Party Gowns
• Mother of the Bride Gowns
• Shoes
• Veils and Accessories
• Jewelry
• Men's Wear
• Other junk that doesnt make sense but we're going to add it anyway.

Third, they need to take out the following:

• Flashing objects
• Screen tracing objects
• Supercolormania
• Music (or at least make it an option to shut it off)

Gosh this site makes me nervous just to look at it. I had to close it. Those are some ideas for their improvement.

TJ's:

TJ's is pretty clear to navigate, but a bit wordy. If I were using a screen reader, I'd be annoyed at the overused words. Get to the point already!